1916.] The Third Indian Science Congress. ci 



enough to support them." •** Salaries were too low to support a teaching 



profession. Competent professional training could not 



exist; satisfactory equipment could not be provided." The Board 

 therefore came to the conclusion that it could render no substantial 

 educational service until the farmers could provide themselves with 

 larger incomes, and consequently they resolved that it was necessary first 

 to improve the agriculture of the Southern States. Now mark what 

 followed. The Board was first advised to address itself to the rising 

 generation and to support the teaching of agriculture in the common 

 schools. But after thoughtful consideration this plan was rejected. They 

 found that in the absence of trained teachers, the effort was impracti- 

 cable ; moreover, there were no funds with which to pay such teachers, 

 and the instruction itself would not materially contribute to its own 

 support. Finally, it was impossible to force intelligent agricultural 

 instruction upon schools whose patrons were not themselves alive to the 

 deficiencies of their own agricultural methods. 



" It was therefore deliberately decided to undertake the agricultural 

 education not of the future farmer, but of the present farmer, on the 

 theory that, if he could be substantially helped, he would gladly support 

 better schools in more and more liberal fashion." As a result of this 

 enquiry a movement known as the Co-operative Farm Demonstration 

 was set up. A year was spent in discovering the most effective methods 

 of teaching improved agricultural methods to adult farmers. Dr. Seaman 

 Knapp of the United States Department of Agriculture was engaged to 

 show farmers how to improve their agricultural methods and raise the 

 standard of their industry. It was not long before successful results 

 were obtained. Under improved treatment it may be roughly stated 

 that the crop yields were doubled. Thus in 1909 the average yield in 

 pounds of seed cotton was 503 '6 per acre : on demonstration farms the 

 average was 90(5 1 pounds; in 1910 the figures were 512-1 and 8589 

 respectively; in 1911, 024*6 and 1081*8: and in 1912, 579-6 and 1054-8. 



In the growing of corn similar results were obtained. In 1909 the 

 ordinary average yield was 16*7 bushels per acre, while on the demon- 

 stration farms it was 31*7 bushels per acre. In 1910, 19*3 and 35-3, in 

 1911, 15-8 and 33*2 and in 1912, 19*6 and 35-4. It is further stated that 

 the poorer the season, the more clearly did the demonstration methods 

 prove their superiority. The work was also studied from the standpoint 

 of the farmer's financial profit. i- In Alabama, for example, in 1912, the 

 average yield of lint cotton was 173 pounds per acre : but demonstration 

 acres averaged 428*3 pounds. Demonstration methods, therefore, netted 

 the farmer 255*3 pounds per acre. At the average price of 65 dollars a 

 bale for lint and seed, the farmer made an extra 33 dollars per acre ; as 

 there were 8,221 acres under cultivation on the demonstration methods, 

 the total gain was 271,000 dollars. In the same year 7,402 acres were 

 under cultivation in demonstration corn. Demonstration acres averaged 

 26*9 bushels more per acre than the general average for the State. The 

 demonstration farmers of the State pocketed 139,379*66 in consequence." 

 This was of course in one State alone. These methods have not been 

 restricted to cotton and corn, but have been applied to a very large number 

 of crops and the propaganda is not limited to cultural methods, but is 

 applied equally to the improvement in farm equipment, more comfortable 

 houses, better barns, stronger teams, better implements and cleaner and 

 healthier surroundings. Hence it is claimed that the beneficent results 

 of this work are not limited to financial profit and cannot entirely be 

 measured by money. Characteristic examples of the relief which the new 

 system brought are cited, but one example will suffice. In Mississippi 

 > years ago the value of a certain farmer's produce was one dollar per acre 

 and he was 800 dollars in debt. In 1909 his entire farm was worked 

 under the Government method- He averaged 1,100 lb. of cotton against 

 his neighbour's 300 to 400 lb. He made besides 500 bushels of corn and 

 from one special demonstration acre realized 152 barrels of high class seed 



